Steam iron



p 1966 c. s. ABRAHAM 3,274,714

STEAM IRON Filed Dec. 19, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 l NV EN TOR 42405 SAz0M0/v45e4 HAM BY WM ATTORNEYS Sept. 27, 1966 c. s. ABRAHAM 3,274,714

STEAM IRON Filed Dec. 19, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR [hams 5440/40 AMA/MM ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent Office 3,274,714 Patented Sept. 27, 1966 3,274,714 STEAM IRON Carlos Salomon Abraham, Rep. de Chile 43-16A, Mexico City, Mexico Filed Dec. 19, 1963, Ser. No. 331,705 3 Claims. (C1, 38-77) This invention relates to a steam iron and more particularly to an iron having special means for the insertion of water to be vaporized for the formation of steam.

As conducive to a better understanding of the instant invention it should be understood that most steam irons currently on the market provide a highly complex structure for the manufacture of steam to be utilized in certain ironing techniques. Further, the steam produced by prior art devices is difficult to control by the operator of the iron and is frequently provided in insufiicient or excess quantities. Also, steam irons known heretofore are difficult to fill and empty, the latter procedure being complicated by the necessity of handling hot water contained within the iron.

It is a primary object of the instant invention to provide a steam iron which is free from the foregoing and other disadvantages.

It is another object of this invention to provide an iron in which the steam may be produced in an amount and at such times as the operator desires.

Yet another object of the instant invention is the provision of a steam iron, the water reservoir of which is easy to fill and readily emptied.

A further object of this invention is to provide an iron which may be readily converted to a steam iron when desired.

A still further object of the instant invention is the provision of a device of the character described which may produce either discrete quantities of steam at the whim of the operator or a continuous flow of steam.

An additional object of this invention is the provision of a steam iron having means to distribute steam over substantially its entire sole plate.

Another object of the instant invention is to provide a steam iron designed to preclude accidental discharge of water when its vaporizing chamber has not yet come up to vaporizing temperature.

A further object of this invention is to provide a steam iron which is sturdy and durable in construction, efficient and reliable in operation, and relatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture, utilize, and maintain.

Other and further objects reside in the combination of elements, arrangement of parts, and features of con- .struction.

Still other objects will in part be obvious and in part be pointed out as the description of the invention prooeeds and as shown in the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a side view partly in elevation and partly in section of a steam iron in accordance with the instant inventive concept;

FIGURE 2 is a transverse cross-sectional view taken substantially on line 22 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an exploded view to a smaller scale of the individual components of the instant steam iron;

FIGURE 4 is a bottom plan view to a smaller scale of the sole plate; and

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary exploded view showing the plug means used when the iron is desired to be utilized without steam.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Referring now to the drawing in general, a steam iron in accordance with the instant inventive concept is designated generally by the reference numeral 10 and as seen particularly in FIGURE 3, is comprised basically of a sole plate 12 including means defining a recess 14 therein for removably receiving a first heating element 16, a barrier plate 18 to be interposed between the first heating element 16 and a second heating element 20 removably received in a recess 22 (see FIGS. 1 and 2) defined in the bottom portion of a structural means 24 having a cover member 26, and a casing means 28 with handle means 30 secured to the top thereof and a bulbous con tainer 32, the interior of which defines a reservoir means 34 for receiving a quantity of water 36 (note FIG. 1) in a manner and for a purpose to be more fully described hereinafter.

Structural means 24 together with its cover plate 26 define therebetween a vaporizing chamber 38, a plurality of screw means 40 passing through apertures 42 in the cover plate 26 and being threadably received in tapped bores 44 in the structural means 24, any conventional sealing or gasket means 46 being interposed to provide a fluid tight chamber. Certain screw means 48 pass through apertures 50 in the casing means 28 before being received in tapped bores 44, additional gasket means 52 sealing the apertures 50. Handle means 30 is secured to casing means 28 by screw means 54 and nut means 56. Screw means 58 are passed upwardly through apertures 60 in sole plate 12, apertures 62 in barrier plate 18, and apertures 64 in structural means 24, these elements being secured in related assembly by nut means 66. Additional screw means 68 may be provided to secure the casing means 28 to the sole plate 12. Also, a screw means 70 may extend through an aperture 72 in sole plate 12 to support a thermostatic means 74 of any conventional form, one such construction being shown in FIGURE 1 for illustrative purposes only.

A plurality of relatively rigid bosses 76a having open tops extend upwardly from the top surface of sole plate 12 and have individual conduit means 76 extending between the vaporizing chamber 38 and the open tops thereof. Openings are provided between the bosses and the bottom surface of the sole plate 12. The conduit means 76 may each be formed of a single tubular or conduit member or a pair of conduit members, the bottom one of each pair being threadably received in a bore adjacent the bottom of the structural means 24, and the top one of each pair being threadably received in the same bore adjacent the top of the structural means 24 as seen particularly in FIGURES 1 and 2. Each conduit means 76 has one end terminating adjacent to or coincident with the bottom of the sole plate 12 and its other end terminating adjacent the top of the vaporizing chamber 38 for a purpose to be described in more detail hereinafter. The portion of the structural means 24 defining the bottom of the vaporizing chamber 38 is inclined rearwardly downwardly as seen in FIGURE 1.

The heating means for the iron 10 is comprised of the heating elements 16 and 20 which may be of any conventional form such as resistance heating elements as shown and which may be connected to a source of electrical energy (not shown) in any conventional manner, the thermostatic means 74 being included in the circuit to automatically de-energize either individually or together the heating elements 16 and 20 when the sole plate 12 or the vaporizing chamber 38 reaches a predetermined temperature. The barrier plate 18 will segregate the heating elements 16 and 20 so that the temperature of the sole plate 12 and the vaporizing chamber 38 will not affect each other. Any conventional insulating means may be included to further this effect if desired.

The bulbous container 32 is preferably formed of a heat-resistant, flexible material, such as rubber or the like .being interposed for sealing contact.

and has portions defining a mouth 78 in which is secured a member 80 preferably formed of plastic or the like held in place by an adjustable strap member 82, such as a hose clamp or the like. The member 80 has a passageway 84 defined therethrough having a lower portion dimensioned to prevent the flow of the water 36 by gravity from the reservoir means 34 and to allow the flow of the water 36 under pressure by the bulbous container 32 to decrease the internal volume of the same. The upper .portion of the passageway 84 is preferably enlarged as at 86 to facilitate the flow of water. The lower end 88 of the member 80 is removably received in a threaded counterbore 90 of a second member 92, a gasket or the like 94 The second member 92 is received through an aperture in the casing means 28 and is threadably secured in an aperture 96 of the cover plate 26 of the structural means 24, gaskets or the like 98 sealing the aperture 96. The second member 92 has a second passageway 100 defined therethrough, the first and second passageways 84 and 100, respectively, together forming a passageway means communicating between the reservoir means 34 and the vaporizing chamber 38.

A plug means 102 is receivable in the :counterbore 90 of the second member 92 when the member 80 is removed therefrom to seal the second passageway 100 shown particularly in FIGURE 5.

Aligned bores 104, 106, 108, and 110 are defined through the sole plate 12, the first heating element 16, the barrier plate 18, and the second heating element 20 for receiving the conduit means 76.

The sole plate 12 has portions thereof defining a plurality of groove means 112 emanating from each of the apertures 104 and extending to remote portions of the bottom surface of the sole plate 12 to distribute steam flowing from the vaporizing chamber 38 through the conduit means 76.

The use and operation of the steam iron of the instant invention will now be apparent. The bulbous container 32 is readily filled by simply squeezing the same to decrease the interior volume of the reservoir means 34 and dipping the end 88 into a glass or the like of water, the

vacuum caused by releasing the bulbous container 32,

need only squeeze the bulbous container 32 to eject a .desired quantity of water 36 through the passageway means into the vaporizing chamber 38 where it will almost instantaneously be transformed into steam to flow through the conduit means 76 to the bottom surface of the sole plate 12. Thus, steam may be supplied only when necessary and in desired quantities, the operator gripping .the handle means with the right hand and operating the bulbous container 32 with the left hand. Of course, the reverse would be true if the operator were left handed. If a continuous supply of steam is desired, a relatively large quantity of water 36 may be squeezed into the vaporizing chamber 38. I Emptying of the water is easily accomplished by merely unscrewing the member 80 from the second member $92 and squeezing the remaining water 36 from the reservoir means 34. Any water left in the vaporizing chamber 38 may be poured through the second passageway 100 by inverting the iron 10, but this is seldom necessary since water is not normally injected into the vaporizing chamber 38 unless it is to be immediately transformed into steam for use.

It will be seen that the bulbous container 32 acts as a valve means that lets water either dropwise or in small jets into the vaporizing chamber 38 at the operators will. This replaces the normally complex valve means in prior 4 art steam irons. The bulbous container 32 does not get hot since it is formed of a heat-resistant material and since it is spaced from the heating means externally of the casing 28. When empty, it may be readily filled or replaced with an auxiliary bulbous container which has been prefilled with water.

Since the bulbous container 32 is readily removable, it may be replaced by a plug means such as 102 when the iron 10 is not to be used as a steam iron.

In the event that the first passageway 84 becomes obstructed, it may be easily cleaned by insertion of a small wire or pin; however, this is seldom necessary, since the water 36 is forced therethrough under pressure thereby providing a self cleaning action. Because of the simplicity of cleaning, it is not necessary to use distilled water with the steam iron of the instant invention as is conventional with prior art devices.

In certain steam irons used heretofore water is dripped into a vaporizing chamber by gravity, but since a high pressure of steam builds up in the vaporizing chamber, additional water does not drip thereinto until the chamber is dry. However, since the water 36 in the device of the instant invention is injected under pressure, additional water may be provided to the vaporizing chamber 38 before that chamber becomes dry.

Each conduit means 76 extends to adjacent the top of the vaporizing chamber 38 to preclude water in its liquid form from flowing to the sole plate 12 in the event that the water is inserted before the vaporizing chamber 38 has been heated sufiiciently to form steam. If the water does not evaporate instantaneously it will fl-ow down the inclined bottom surface of the vaporizing chamber and will accumulate until the iron is fully heated, the steam eventually being formed rising in the chamber 38 and passing through the conduit means 76 to the bottom surface of the sole plate 12.

The dual heating elements allow the sole plate 12 to be raised to an ironing temperature even though the vaporizing chamber 38 is filled with water and the temperature therein is consequently reduced.

When the iron 10 is leaned back in a substantially vertical position as is conventional in use, the water 36 ceases to be converted into steam and the iron may be utilized for an extended period of time without consuming the water.

The assembly of the components of the iron 10 is quick and simple and each element may be separately replaced if necessary without harming the entire iron.

lt will now be seen that there is herein provided an improved steam iron which satisfies all the objectives of the instant invention and others, including many advantages of great practical utility and commercial importance.

Since many embodiments may be made of the instant inventive concept, and since many modifications may be made of the embodiments hereinbefore shown and described, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted merely as illustrative, and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. An iron comprising casing means having a top and a bottom, a sole plate secured to said bottom of said casing means and having a top surface and a bottom surface adapted for ironing, handle means secured to said top of said casing means, structural means defining a vaporizing chamber within said casing means above said sole plate, hollow open topped bosses extending upwardly from said sole plate and having means opening through said sole plate at their lower ends, said bosses extending into said vaporizing chamber, said vaporizing chamber having a bottom and a top, open-ended upwardly directed conduit means communicating between spaced points in said vaporizing chamber and the open tops of said bosses, reservoir means adapted to contain a quantity of water, means mounting said reservoir means externally of said casing, passageway means communicating between said 5 reservoir means and said vaporizing chamber, heating means to heat said sole plate to an ironing temperature and said vaporizing chamber to a water vaporizing temperature, said heating means including a first heating unit juxtaposed to said sole plate, a second heating unit, juxtaposed to said bottom of said vaporizing chamber, and a barrier plate interposed between said first and second heating elements.

2. The structure of claim 1 wherein said sole plate is provided with a recess, and said first heating element is removably positioned in said recess of said sole plate.

3. The structure of claim 2 wherein said structural means is provided with a recess below said bottom of said vaporizing chamber, and said second heating element is removably positioned in said recess of said struc tural means.

References Cited by the Examiner JORDAN FRANKLIN, Primary Examiner.

PATRICK D. LAWSON, Assistant Examiner. 

1. AN IRON COMPRISING CASING MEANS HAVING A TOP AND A BOTTOM, A SOLE PLATE SECURED TO SAID BOTTOM OF SAID CASING MEANS AND HAVING A TOP SURFACE AND A BOTTOM SURFACE ADAPTED FOR IRONING, HANDLE MEANS SECURED TO SAID TOP OF SAID CASING MEANS, STRUCTURAL MEANS DEFINING A VAPORIZING CHAMBER WITHIN SAID CASING MEANS ABOVE SAID SOLE PLATE, HOLLOW OPEN TOPPED BOSES EXTENDING UPWARDLY FROM SAID SOLE PLATE AND HAVING MEANS OPENING SAID SOLE PLATE AT THEIR LOWER ENDS, SAID BOSSES EXTENDING INTO SAID VAPORIZING CHAMBER, SAID VAPORIZING CHAMBER HAVING A BOTTOM AND A TOP, OPEN-ENDED UPWARDLY DIRECTED CONDUIT MEANS COMMUNICATING BETWEEN SPACED POINTS IN SAID VAPORIZING CHAMBER AND THE OPEN TOPS OF SAID BOSSES, RESERVOIR MEANS ADAPTED TO CONTAIN A QUANTITY OF WATER, MEANS MOUNTING SAID RESERVOIR MEANS EXTERNALLY OF SAID CASING, PASSAGEWAY MEANS COMMUNICATING BETWEEN SAID RESERVOIR MEANS AND SAID VAPORIZING CHAMBER, HEATING MEANS TO HEAT SAID SOLE PLATE TO AN IRONING TEMPERATURE AND SAID VAPORIZING CHAMBER TO A WATER VAPORIZING TEMPERATURE, SAID HEATING MEANS INCLUDING A FIRST HEATING UNIT JUXTAPOSED TO SAID SOLE PLATE, A SECOND HEATING UNIT, JUXTAPOSED TO SAID BOTTOM OF SAID VAPORIZING CHAMBER, AND A BARRIER PLATE INTERPOSED BETWEEN SAID FIRST AND SECOND HEATING ELEMENTS. 